Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #25

While there have been many iterations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over the past decades, there is something special about IDW's current run. Thanks in part to Kevin Eastman's watchful eye, the current TMNT stories have been top-tier tales and a must-read time and time again. Eastman and company have continued to increase the stakes with issue #25, sporting a dark tale that never forgets its heart.

With Leonardo brain-washed and Shredder about to close his grip upon the underworld, the turtles are divided even further thanks to Raph’s rage fuelled departure. With time running out, it's up to Mikey and Don to calm him, if they are to have any chance of stopping Shredder and saving Leo from the dark-side.

You can feel the tension bubbling beneath every panel, but the sense of dread isn't what makes this a good TMNT book. No, it’s the smaller moments, when the turtles stop fighting and act like a family. Having lost a brother to their enemy, the turtles are hurting with Eastman and Waltz making darn sure the reader is hurting too.

The art is gorgeous, particularly the scenes featuring a ticked-off Raph and some hapless street thugs. You can see the lines in his face tightening as he fails to hold back the demon within.

With the City Fall arc nearing its end, Eastman and company have elevated the TMNT to new heights. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #25 is a mini-landmark issue and deserving of its accomplishments. Here’s to 25 more!